We are pleased to announce the publication of Volume 18 of the IEA Research for Education series: Educating Pupils for Environmental Sustainability in Europe: Findings from TIMSS 2023 Data.
Launched at the ATEE Winter Conference 2026 in Braga, Portugal, this latest volume reflects IEA’s mission to advance understanding of education systems worldwide through high-quality data and in-depth analysis. The report draws on TIMSS 2023 data to explore how sustainability is understood, taught, and experienced across European education systems.
What are the key themes of the report?
Bringing together the GreenComp framework (the European sustainability competence framework) and TIMSS 2023 data, the report offers a comprehensive and contextualized view of sustainability learning in European education systems. Across seven chapters, it examines:
- The role of GreenComp in shaping sustainability education
- The future of science education and sustainability competencies in Europe
- How GreenComp aligns with TIMSS 2023 findings
- Students’ knowledge and understanding of environmental sustainability
- Approaches to teaching sustainability in science classrooms
- The influence of school organization and environments
- The relationship between student knowledge, attitudes, and sustainability outcomes.
By combining large-scale assessment data with policy frameworks, this volume provides a nuanced, cross-country perspective on how education can support environmental awareness and sustainable development.
Discover some key highlights from Volume 18 of IEA Research for Education in infographic form.
Educating Pupils for Environmental Sustainability in Europe: Findings from TIMSS 2023 Data was co-funded was co-funded by the European Union, and we gratefully acknowledge their support in making this work possible.
Hear from the experts!
Curious to hear directly from the experts? Read author testimonials and reflections on the report.
Discover the report and series
Educating Pupils for Environmental Sustainability in Europe is available via Springer.
The IEA Research for Education series continues to showcase the power of IEA datasets, bringing together leading researchers to generate insights that support better teaching and learning worldwide.